Ben Bonham has over fifteen years of professional experience as a live performer, teacher and recording musician in both the U.K. and the U.S.A. Since 1996, this British expatriate has delighted U.S. audiences with his renderings of old time American music and his mastery of Delta Blues, Vintage Hawaiian, Folk, Ragtime and Country Blues guitar.
After living and working all over the world - often playing music at nights - Ben moved back to England in 1992 and started playing music full time.
Ben formed 'The Roustabouts' with harmonica/washboard player Dave Gibson and toured the UK for 2 years playing "blues , rags and that good old devil's music". Despite the success of The Roustabouts Ben decided to move to the States in 1996.
From 1996 to 2002 Ben lived and worked around the Bay Area in California. After a couple of years playing on the streets and in Bart stations, Ben began playing in the local clubs. His hard work and popularity led to regular shows at respected Bay Area venues such as The Filmore, The Sweetwater, The Freight and Salvage and many major music festivals. Ben recorded two One Man Band Cd's (one out of print now) and the popular solo guitar Instrumental CD - 'Slide show' - during this period.
In 2000 Ben met Frank Novicki and found they shared a love of vintage Hawaiian Steel guitar music. Together they formed The Waikiki Steel Works and released a CD in 2001.
In 2002 Ben moved to Portland Oregon and later that year Trashcan Joe trashcanjoe.com was born and continues to be Portlands favorite trashcan band, with Ben playing 'trash steel ' guitar. That year Ben began teaching guitar at Artichoke Music and remains one of the few instructors in steel guitar technique around the Pacific Northwest.
Ben also began working with Jamie Stillway in 2002 and in 2004 released 'Stillway & Bonham' - picked as best local CD of the year by the Willamette Week Newspaper.
Trashcan Joe's CD 'Wrong Side Of Town' was also released in 2004 to rave reviews (see Ben's Bands).
'Kids Only' - a One Man Band CD for kids of all ages was recorded in 2003 by Trashcan Joe inventor and band member Cap'n James Cook.
At this time Ben toured the USA as Hawaiian Steel guitarist for the darling Japanese Ukulele Duo - 'Petty Booka'. www.pettybooka.com
In 2003 Ben moved to Hood River (about 1 hr east of Portland) where he has now settled down on a small farm with his wife and two children. Since joining the Columbia Gorge's fine array of musicians Ben now works with many other locals providing all types of music for all occasions. Along with a busy teaching schedule at Hood River's CD store - Mobius Records - and performances with The Hapa Hillbillies, The Bohemian Social Club and kids shows with Victor Johnson, you can find Ben in Portland with Trashcan Joe, or Stillway & Bonham, every now and then.